Page 22 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

The guard raised his chin. “Lady Aurora, I am going to ask you a question now, and I want you to purposely lie so we can see how a lie would manifest in you as a human.”

I nodded.

“How old are you?” He continued.

“I am thirty,” I lied. I doubled over and cried out as intense pain shot through my stomach. Cora gasped, and her eyes widened.

Gabriel hurriedly placed a hand on my stomach and back. His healing white light from his palms spread through my torso, instantly stripping the pain from me. I swallowed and stood upright once more. He let out a low growl at the guard, who looked terrified.

“Gabriel, she is fine. Proceed,” King Torrish admonished.

The guard turned back to me but had taken a step to the side, putting more distance between him and Gabriel. “Back to the truth. How old are you?”

“Thirty-five,” I responded, less steady.

“How did you come to this side of the threshing wall?” The guard’s head tipped.

“My daughter and I fell through and woke up on this side of the wall.” I wanted to twist my fingers, but I pushed the urge down.

The guard turned to the dais. “Your Majesty, you may ask her questions now.”

King Torrish immediately launched into his inquisition. “Is this youngling, Cora, your daughter?”

I nodded. “She is.”

“Where is her father?” King Torrish deeply creased his brows.

“I don’t know,” I said, trying to deter the sadness in my voice.

The king’s tone became accusatory. “Did he cross the threshing wall with you?”

I shook my head. “No. He left us when Cora was still a baby, and we haven’t seen him since.”

Torrish looked me up and down. “Did anyone else cross the threshing wall with you and your youngling?”

“Not that I am aware of.”

“Did you come here with the intention of causing anyone harm?” He tightened his already balled-up fists.

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Can I trust you to follow our laws, rules, and customs while you are in this castle and these lands?” The king’s eyebrow raised.

I placed my hand on my chest. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The king scoffed. “Fine. You will remain with us in the castle and be provided with an attendant for your needs and a chaperone to keep you and the youngling safe as my wards. I assume you would like to get back to Edenalee?”

“You are too kind, Your Majesty.” I plastered on a placating smile. “Yes, Cora and I would like to return home. I am sure, with your vast knowledge and power, you might have some idea on how we can do that?”

He sat silently for a moment, eyes boring into me. I hoped I wasn’t too bold. In Edenalee, our king loved to have his ego bolstered. Maybe that was not the way here.

Queen Mollah spoke first. “We have a vast library and access to the best and brightest scholars in the kingdom. If there is a way, they will know. You may meet with them tomorrow.”

I bowed my head and gave her a soft smile.

King Torrish took to staring at Gabriel, eyes darkened, and the corners of his mouth tipped up in the most unnerving way. “Gabriel, spies have sent word about militia activity in the west valley. Take some of your soldiers there to flush out any dissenters and bring them in to see justice under the eye of Themis.”

For a king to speak so freely about information garnered from their spies in front of strangers caught me off guard. I couldn’t imagine the King of Edenalee being so nonchalant about sensitive information. Perhaps they viewed me as nonthreatening enough to be concerned. Whether it was because I was a human or because I was a woman, I didn’t know. Perhaps it was both, but I would continue to let them underestimate me. It would only work in my favor.